The Second Day of Lunar New Year in Hong Kong
The second day of Lunar New Year is both a statutory holiday for employees and a general holiday in Hong Kong. Che Kung Temple visits are a local feature of the day, while seasonal celebrations may include fireworks over Victoria Harbour.[1][2][3]
A holiday with two legal roles
Hong Kong law lists the second day of Lunar New Year among statutory holidays under the Employment Ordinance. Employees are entitled to the day regardless of length of service, although an employer may require an employee to work after giving at least 48 hours’ notice and arranging an alternative holiday. Statutory holiday pay is due to employees who have been employed under a continuous contract for at least three months.[1]
The day is also a general holiday under the General Holidays Ordinance. General holidays are days when banks, educational establishments, public offices and government departments need not open. If any of the first three Lunar New Year days falls on a Sunday, the fourth day of Lunar New Year is designated as the substitute statutory and general holiday. That is a separate rule from the statutory entitlement when a holiday falls on an employee’s rest day.[2][5]
Local observances
Lunar New Year is celebrated across many Chinese communities, but Hong Kong’s observances include a distinctive second-day temple tradition. Che Kung Temple is busy on the second or third day: visitors pray, burn incense, draw fortune sticks and turn a copper windmill clockwise in hopes of good luck. The second day is also identified as Che Kung’s birthday.[3]
Fireworks over Victoria Harbour are typically held on the second day, though event arrangements can vary. Hong Kong’s Lunar New Year guide also describes lion and dragon dances, lai see red envelopes and visits to the Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree as parts of the wider festive period; these customs are not exclusive to this date.[3]
Food and the wider festive season
Many Lunar New Year foods carry auspicious meanings. Hong Kong Tourism Board describes poon choi as a dish originating in New Territories village communities, prepared in layers and shared from a large communal pot as a symbol of unity. Fish is associated with surplus, while sweet nin gou, a glutinous rice cake, is popular in Hong Kong and linked with rising or growth.[4]
These foods are associated with Lunar New Year more broadly, rather than being specific to the second day. Traditions vary between families, and the official sources describe a range of customs rather than a single required way to observe the holiday.[3][4]
Services and planning
Government departments, banks and postal offices suspend services on public holidays, although online banking and ATMs remain available. Shops are not covered by the general-holiday closure rule, so their opening hours may differ. The Hong Kong government advises checking department notices for adjusted hours.[5]
Public transport can have special arrangements around major festivals, and those arrangements vary by year. Check operator announcements before travel, especially if attending an event by the harbour or visiting a temple.[5]
Frequently asked questions
Is the second day of Lunar New Year a day off in Hong Kong?
What happens if it falls on a Sunday?
The fourth day of Lunar New Year becomes the substitute statutory and general holiday when any of the first three days falls on a Sunday.[2]
Are shops and public transport closed?
The general-holiday closure rule covers banks and government and educational offices, not all shops. Transport arrangements vary, so check current notices for the services you plan to use.[5]
What can visitors do on the day?
Che Kung Temple is a local focus: visitors pray, burn incense, draw fortune sticks and turn a copper windmill for good luck. Fireworks over Victoria Harbour are typically held on the second day, but schedules may vary.[3]
Sources and references
Sources used for The second day of Lunar New Year in Hong Kong SAR China:
- The Employment Ordinance, Cap. 57- Labour Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- General Holidays and Employment Legislation (Substitution of Holidays)(Amendment) Ordinance 2011- Labour Department, The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- The Ultimate Guide to Chinese New Year in Hong Kong- Hong Kong Tourism Board
- Traditional Dishes to Eat During Chinese New Year- Hong Kong Tourism Board
- LCQ7: Arrangements regarding additional or substituted general holidays- The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region